Author: Hafley, Larry Ray

The only way to be complete and to be saved by the finished work of Christ is to be “in Christ.” Scripture says we are “baptized into Jesus Christ.” If one is not baptized, he is not “in Christ,” for we are “baptized into Christ.” Thus, one must be baptized to be complete in Christ and to have the benefits of the finished work of Christ.

Since “The Austin Baptist Association” voted to “oust” “University Baptist” because they ordained a “gay deacon,” we know that Baptists cannot plead that they are “non-judgmental.” So, we want to know if a thing is bad enough to get a church kicked out of “The Austin Baptist Association,” is it bad enough to keep one from heaven (1 Peter 2:11)? Some Baptist needs to tell us.

Brethren, whether we believe it or not, or whether we will admit it or not, there is a growing disdain and disgust for “pattern authority” and “pattern worship.”

Language could not be plainer to one who believes what the Lord said. To those who are wedded to a doctrine rather than love for the truth, nothing will suffice to convince their hardened hearts (2 Thessalonians. 2:10-12).

When someone finds authority for the church to furnish recreation, amusement and entertainment, he will have found authority for gymnasiums “and such like.” Until then, such things exist without scriptural authority.

The Jews preached Moses as the law and the prophets were “read in the synagogue every Sabbath day” (Luke 4:16; Acts 13:14, 15, 27; 15:21). But hearing, they heard not, and seeing they saw not, for they rejected him who was the sum and substance of all they read and heard. Both in an out of the church, it is likewise true today.

Happily do we join hearts and hands in the work and worship prescribed of God with all who “in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2; 4:6, 17; 11:2). However, until we are shown from the Scriptures that instruments of music are authorized as part of the worship of the church, we can have neither part nor lot with them and shall oppose them as we would any other human tradition and innovation (Revelation 22:18, 19).

The ship of Zion has floundered more than once on the sand-bar of institutionalism. The tendency to organize is characteristic of the age.

You might gently remind your granddaughter that if we must simply keep quiet and pray for those who are in error, why didn’t she do the same with you? According to her reasoning, she should never have confronted you about your actions. Instead of making you feel “uncomfortable,” ask her if she should not have kept quiet and simply prayed for you and your husband? It is a poor rule that won’t work both ways. If her rule is true, she broke it by rebuking you.

The following correspondence was initiated with brother Hafley by a man who sought to defend the use of instruments of music in Christian worship. We will limit our identification of the man to his first name, Don. Don’s grammar and punctuation, as well as his sentence construction, lacks formality. We thought it best, however, to retain the form rather than seeking to edit the posts of one with which we disagree. The correspondence is reprinted here for your study on this important subject.

If forgiveness by the blood of Christ is unconditional for the child of God, why is it not the same for the alien sinner? As noted, Jesus shed his blood for him, too (John 6:51; Hebrews 2:9). If the child of God is forgiven without conditions, as per the windshield wiper, why doesn’t the same rule apply to the child of the devil?

The things the apostles wrote are the commandments of the Lord (1 Cor. 14:37). When we read what they wrote, we are reading the word of God (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Thess. 2:15). Thus, the Spirit’s word given through the apostles is the agent or instrument the Spirit uses to convict the sinner. “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Adam was led to sin by the spoken word of the devil. By means of lying, through incentive, inducement, and enticement, Adam was led to sin (Gen. 3:1-6; Jas. 1:13-15). The word of the devil allured this totally righteous man, this man who was dead to sins, to commit sin and die. The word of God can allure, therefore, totally depraved man, the man dead in sins, to obey God and live (John 5:25), or else the word of the devil is more powerful than the word of God (Rom. 1:16; Heb. 4:12). From this conclusion there is no escape.

It is only when we hear “some preachers say” that “speaking the truth in love” means that we must avoid “negative preaching,” that we hear preachers rightly observe that “two-thirds” of Jeremiah 1:10 is “negative,” while “one-third” is “positive.” It is only when preaching that roots out, pulls down, destroys, and throws down is castigated as being harmful and contrary to the spirit of godly gospel preaching that we hear “some preachers” speak of the “two-thirds, one-third” equation.

Regarding the current controversy concerning “the days of Genesis 1,” let us ask, “How readest thou?” Are the days referred to literal days, or are they long ages of time as evolutionists theorize? Let us cite a portion of the text, and ask, “How readest thou?”

If we must cease references to “churches of Christ,” to be consistent we must do away with these other terms–Christian, elder, pastor, baptism, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit baptism, tongues, and miracles. However, the truth is that we need not dispense with any of them. Rather, without shame or apology, we must teach the world the truth and use every opportunity to show the distinction between the words of men and the word of God (Acts 17:23; 1 Pet. 4:11).

Jesus did not think that our private worship was “far more important” than our understanding of certain doctrines. He did not teach that “worshiping him privately” “is far more important” than our public doctrines or teachings. He said that when we draw near to him (whether privately or publicly) and we do so while keeping our own human traditions, that our worship is “in vain,” void [Matt. 15:8, 9, 13, 14; Cf. 7:21-27].

It matters not at all how the Baptists or any other sect votes on any issue or doctrine. All the edicts of all the ecclesiastical bodies of the all the earth count for nothing and mean even less. What is changed by their vote? Are the resolutions of men bound upon the word of God? Can they alter what God has said? No, not one syllable!

God once spoke unto men by the Old Testament prophets, but now he speaks unto us “by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1, 2). We no longer appeal to quaking, shaking Sinai, but unto the heavenly Mt. Zion (Hebrews 12:18-28). We no longer hear Moses who spake on earth but our Lord who speaketh from heaven. The voice from the earth, the Old Testament, spoke of both incense and the instrument. The one who speaketh from heaven speaks of neither.

Not everyone will join the fray, even if they see and know the seriousness of it. Some are cowards; some are spineless spiritual politicians who, like the princes of Succoth, will not aid the army of God until they see who is going to win (Jud. 8:4-7). Wash your hands of such men. They will stifle your efforts; they will quench the Spirit and yours, IF you will let them. Follow the pattern of Paul in this endeavor, as in all efforts, teaching every man, warning every man in all wisdom (Col. 1:28). Having done that, flinch not, flee not, and take steady aim between the eyes of your adversaries.